The Goal

Jacob, a servant of Jesus Christ, Husband to Yeceny and Father to Jacob Robert. Today I embark on an adventure. One that is written with clear goals and markers along the way. I am writing to clarify my own purpose and meaning. I am writing because I have a lot on my mind, but very few outlets. I am writing because I’m not a good writer, yet I love words and meaning. In short, I am preparing myself for a new way of living, one that is becoming, not stagnating. A life that is worthy of the calling God has prepared beforehand. A life that encompasses Jesus in every jot and tittle.

The Goal

The Goal – Post cover by Jake B. Mansfield

I plan on bringing my family along with me on this journey, for it is not good to grow a garden and not share your first fruits with others, especially those dearest to you. God has, in many ways, prepared my heart and life for this journey, only I have been afraid of many things thus far, one being the fear of man and his relentless barrage of attacks on my soul. I know this man very well as I am he. Without a spoken or written word, I have mocked my own attempts at righteousness, believed the lie that I should remain in mediocrity, and stopped myself from completion before I ever heard a judgment, good or bad. I’m excited to write as I know it is good for the soul. I’m looking forward to shedding away some very deeply comforting lies in my mind. I’m anticipating that God will use my writings for good and this will only serve to encourage me all the more.

I’ll start with my goal in mind for it is not unique to the Christian, or at least it shouldn’t be.

Goal: I will love the Lord my God with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind and strength. Or as Keven DeYoung puts it, “to love Him with our whole hearts, to obey His Word, and after that, do what we like.”

This is great, I have purpose and meaning in life that will not fade away with this temporary world! I can invest all of life in something that is everlasting. Now, the hard part, doing what I like in the right context and in the right way that keeps God at the center of my focus and joy.  2 Corinthians 5:9 clearly states what every believer’s goal should be, “So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” Colossians 3:17 also repeats this theme, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Below you’ll find my framework for the beginning of my foundation. 

Step 1: Foundations

  1. Introduction to my Foundations
  2. God
    1. The Knowledge of God
    2. The Revelation of God
    3. The Perfections of God
    4. The Names of God
    5. The Triunity of God
  3. The Bible
    1. Special Revelation
    2. Inspiration
    3. Defections of Inspiration*
    4. Inerrancy of Scripture
    5. Problem Passages*
    6. The Canon
    7. Interpretation of the Bible
  4. Angles
    1. Angelic Existence
    2. The Creation of Angels
    3. The Nature of Angels
    4. The Organization of Angels
    5. The Ministry of Angels
  5. Satan
    1. A True Reality
    2. The Creation and Sin of Satan
    3. The Activities of Satan
    4. Satan’s World
  6. Demons
    1. The Reality of Demons
    2. What are Demons Like?
    3. What Do Demons Do?
  7. Man
    1. History and Origins
    2. The Bible and Origins
    3. The Creation of Man
    4. The Facets of Man
    5. The Fall of Man
  8. Sin
    1. The Biblical Concept of Sin
    2. Christ’s Teaching Concerning Sin
    3. The Inheritance of Sin
    4. The Imputation of Sin
    5. Personal Sin
    6. The Christian and Sin
  9. Jesus
    1. The Preincarnate Christ
    2. The Incarnate Christ
    3. The Person of Christ Incarnate
    4. Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King
    5. The Self-Emptying of Christ
    6. The Sinless Christ
    7. The Resurrection and Ascension of Christ
    8. The Post-Ascension Ministries of Christ
  10. Salvation
    1. Introductory Considerations
    2. The Biblical Terminology
    3. The Passion of Christ
    4. The Meaning of the Death of Christ
    5. Some Results of Salvation
    6. Theories of the Atonement*
    7. The Application of Salvation
    8. The Security of the Believer
    9. What is the Gospel?
  11. The Holy Spirit
    1. Who is the Holy Spirit?
    2. The Holy Spirit in OT Times
    3. The Holy Spirit in the Life of our Lord
    4. The Spirit Indwelling
    5. The Spirit Sealing
    6. The Spirit Baptizing
    7. The Spirit Gifting
    8. The Spirit Filling
    9. Other Ministries of the Spirit
    10. History of the Doctrine of the Spirit
  12. The Church
    1. What is the Church?
    2. The Distinctives of the Church
    3. Principles and/or Pattern?
    4. Types of Church Government
    5. Qualified Leadership for the Church
    6. Ordinances for the Church
    7. The Worship of the Church
    8. Other Ministries of the Church
  13. Eschatology
    1. Introduction to Eschatology

My foundation is set! It’s time to put some markers in the ground and move forward with my definitions and understanding of each theological subject. One step at a time.

Coram Deo,

Jake B. Mansfield

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